Trait emotional intelligence and quality of life among breast cancer patients: The mediating role of fear of cancer recurrence.

Background: Trait emotional intelligence and fear of cancer recurrence could predict quality of life, but the mechanism between the three is poorly understood. Methods: The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between trait emotional intelligence, fear of cancer recurrence and quality of life in patients with breast cancer. A cross‐sectional study was conducted with 215 breast cancer patients recruited from two hospitals in China. Data were collected from December 2018 to April 2019. Questionnaires measured demographic and medical characteristics, trait emotional intelligence, fear of cancer recurrence and quality of life. Pearson correlation analysis and structural equation modelling were conducted to analyse the data. Results: As expected, trait emotional intelligence was positively related to quality of life and negatively correlated with fear of cancer recurrence. Fear of cancer recurrence was negatively associated with quality of life. This relationship between trait emotional intelligence and quality of life was mediated by fear of cancer recurrence. Conclusions: These results shed light on underlying mechanisms by which trait emotional intelligence affects quality of life. Trait emotional intelligence training could reduce fear of cancer recurrence to improve quality of life for cancer patients. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? Trait emotional intelligence is a predictor of quality of life and can manage emotion.Fear of cancer recurrence in breast cancer patients is an important factor that impairs their quality of life.There is a lack of research on the mediating role of fear of cancer recurrence on the path from trait emotional intelligence to quality of life. What this paper adds? Trait emotional intelligence is associated with fear of cancer recurrence.Fear of cancer recurrence of breast cancer patients mediates the effect of trait emotional intelligence on their quality of life. The implications of this paper: Nurses can consider implementing trait emotional intelligence training, which may be a new type of psychological intervention for cancer patients to reduce fear of cancer recurrence and improve quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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